Rabbit carrier



Nov. 4, 1947. w; c. LE-MIVRE RABBIT CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet l V, S @di .wu ww gwvwvbom W. C. LE MIRE Nov. 4, 1947. w, c. LE MIRE RABBIT CARRIER Filed Deo. 28, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4- /ao /u #l www WCLE MIRE L51 V iii" N0v.4,1947. WQLE MIRE' 2,430,403l

, RABBIT CARRIER Filed Deo. 28, 1945 s sheets-Sheet s E MIRE W. C.. L

Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RABBIT CARRIER Warren Le Mire, Revere, Mass.

Application December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,700

Claims. (Cl. 272-4) This invention relates to improvements in race track apparatus and more particularly to rabbit carriers used in connection with racing-dog training.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a simple, eicient and highly durable device of this character designed to be sturdily fool-proof and dependable in all operational functions.

Another object thereof is to provide, in a device of the character described a positive electrical contact relationship between the lure carrying framework and the parts thereof that make rolling contact with overhead and under contact rails.

Another object thereof is to provide the various movable parts of the apparatus in such a manner of arrangement that, should any of the parts become accidentally deranged no casualities will happen to the racing dogs responsible for same, nor will any part become permanently damaged if it gives way under undue strains.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvement in the mast arm upon whose extremity the rabbit or other lure is carried directly over the racing tract in respect to enabling it, when subject suddenly to any forcible collision with the racing dog, to give way yieldably and assume a position where injury to the animal will be avoided.

Another object thereof is to provide separate driving connections from the electric motor to the separate contact traction wheels of the carriage so that should either driving connection become disabled the other will continue to function properly.

A further object thereof is to provide novel means for mounting the upper contact wheels in rolling contact with the current-providing upper rail whereby they may be supported in rail disengaging position should those parts break or give way which press them into electrical contact with the rail.

A still further purpose of this invention is to provide means for keeping the upper contact wheels in positive electrical rolling contact at all times with the upper rail yieldably, but in such a manner that some play is allowed the Wheels so as to be able to move into disengaged position with relation to the rail.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is sought also to provide compensation by way of expansion and contraction for the separate rail sections which compose each line of upper and lower contact rails, special means being provided for this end. Special electrical connections are also provided for including in a closed electrical circuit with the electrical motor of the lure holding carriage the upper contact wheels, the lower traction wheels and the brushes employed in relation With the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the combination, arrangement, and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specications and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the racing apparatus, parts being shown in section,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rabbit or lure holding saddle forming part of my invention,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of my invention,

Figure 4 is a fragmental plan view of the sectional rail showing means employed to allow for expansion and contraction,

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the parts shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the parts of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is another side elevation looking at the other side of the invention,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of one of the rocker arms,

Figure 9 is a plan view of the parts of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a detail view in fragmental outline of the current distributor, and

Figure 11 is a fragmental detail view showing one of the brushes in contact with a rail.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic View showing the electric circuit to the motor.

Referring to the drawings which are merely illustrative of my invention I disclose a pair of vertically aligned and spaced preferably galvanized T conductor rails designed to receive and impart current by way of the lure holding carriage directly to the electric motor thereof. The base flanges I0 of the upper rail have a vertically disposed web II, which lines up with the vertically disposed web Il of the base flanges I0' of the lower conductor rail. Suitable cleats I3, by means of fasteners I4, clamp insulation members I2 and the base flanges I0 of the upper rail directly to the horizontal arm I5 of a rigid bracket whose vertical arm I0 is secured by bolts I8 and nuts I'I directly to the back wall 28 of the apparatus. A stout ledge I9, secured operatively upon the bracket arm I5 is secured to the rear face of an upstanding fence 2| by means of suitable fasteners 20, said fence being supported by a horizontally extending bar 22 attached by fasteners to the rear wall as at 23.

Spaced vertically below and in vertical alignment with the fence 2| is suitable curbing 25, thereby leaving a slot 24 between fence and curbing; the curbing flanks one side of a pit 21 which extends in underground relationship with respect to the track 25. There is a stout bracket in the pit 21 designated 25J- 39, 29 indicating its horizontally disposed arm and 30 its vertically disposed arm, the latter being secured to the back wall 28 by means of bolts 3l and clamping nuts 32. The lower rail is mounted upon the horizontal arm 29 of the bracket in identically the same manner already described in connection with the upper rail.

The carriage proper of the racing apparatus is designated 33 and it carries rigidly a strong upright frame wall 35 which, for suitable reinforcing purposes has a net-work of integral ribs formed thereupon, not only to accommodate the location of the electric motor 34 but of oppositely arranged rocker arms about to be described. Re- .erring to Figure 3, it will be seen that a tubular hub 36 extends centrally of the frame outwards, having in integral formation there with spoke like ribs 38 extending at right angles to each other, there also being a perimetral rib extending coextensively of the edge of the frame as at 31; upwardly extending outwardly divergent ribs 39 and 40 are also formed integrally of the frame 35 which converge downwardly to join tangentially an arch-shaped rib 56 which is closed at its bottom by the perimetral rib 31. Pivot pins 4| are operatively journaled at the innermost ends o f the ribs .39 and 40, being in concentric relation with respect to the electric motor 34 which is lodged in the arch-shaped Acage 6B, since that part of the frame enclosed by the archshaped rib has been out away for the reception of the motor. Such a construction of parts assures that the motor will be located in a nicely balanced relationship with respect to the other movable parts of the apparatus.

Located so as to have a slight swinging play or movement in the ribs or enclosures .39 and 40 respectively are rocker arms 4-2 and 43 respectively which are tubular in conguration, as shown in Figure 8 particularly, and for this purpose the enclosures flare outwardly. The rocker arms 42 and 43 extend bevond 'the ribs 39 and 40 where they are formed with Suitable journal boxes 45 in which are snugly mounted and pressed iiber bushings 19 for insulatedly receiving the shafts l2 of the pair of upper contacts wheels 49 and l] which, like the lower traction contact wheels 41 and 48 are g-looved out peripherally to guide the carriage in erect position as it is impelled along by the motor. Integral ears or lugs 46 are formed at an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of and upon the rocker arms. Lateral straps 43' are secured by fasteners 44 to the upper corners of the frame 35 and extend across the length of ythe ribs 39 and 40, serving as guides to control the radial movement allowed to the rocker arms under certain conditions, as where, for some reason, the vupper contact wheels 49 and 50 become accidentally disengaged from rolling contact with the upper conductor rail. in which even the rocker arms will, under influence of gravity, swing from uppermost position to the lowermost position illustrated in Figure 3.

For the purpose of pressing the upper contact wheels 49 and V5D at all times iirmly and positively in rolling contact with the upper rail, contractile springs 5I and 52 are provided, whose outer hook ends are connected xedly to the ears 4S of the rocker arms 42 and 43 and whose inner hook ends are connected to the opposite ends of a horizontally arranged prop arm 53 rmly secured by operative fasteners 54 to the central upper part of the frame 35. It will be observed that the prop arm and contractile springs are in horizontal alignment and that the springs exert a pull in horizontally opposite directions upon the upper ends of the rocker arms, thereby pressing the wheels 49 and 55 firmly against the web ll of the upper rail; at the same time the rocker arms have suiiicient play in their U-shaped mountings to move therein against the tension of these springs, should the carriage be subjected to jars or jolts.

The motor shaft is designated 58 and fixed thereupon are a pair of adjacent sprocket wheels 59 and Sil (Figure l), while a sprocket 53 is also xed upon axle 65 of one traction contact wheel 41, and another sprocket wheel 64 on axle 63 of the other traction Contact wheel 4S. Sprocket chains 5i and y$2 respectively are trained over the sprocket wheels 59 and 69 and over the sprocket wheels 63 and 54, by reason of which a motor drive is separately had for each separate traction wheel.

The motor cage 63 is electrically connected directly to the motor 34 being suitably insulated where necessary. It carries a depending brush 61' which contacts or rubs against the lower rail as the carriage is impelled forward.

Another brush is operatively carried by an insulated block 13 which is secured upon a plate 14 suitably mounted upon the frame laterally of the mast about to be described; this brush also rubs against the upper rail as the carriage is impelled forwardly. The upper and lower brushes 61 and 61 respectively may be in vertical alignment. From the brush 61 wires 15 are extended for connection to the motor 34. Insulated wires or other electrical connections are also employed to include the rocker arms and their Contact wheels in a closed circuit to the electric motor. For example, a wire is bridged across at 58 (Figure 3) so as to project into the tubular bores of these members, extending upwardly therein and coming out thereat to be connected at 59 to the shafts of the upper contact wheels 49 and 50.

Fitted into the tubular hub 3B centrally of the frame is the inner end of a stout mast arm 80, by which it is centered so as to extend outwardly in a plane preferably at right angles to the frame 35. This mast arm projects out through the slot 24. In order to suitably reinforce it by bracing I provide a circular series of brace arms 8| which diverge in the direction of the frame where their innner ends are operatively anchored into the frame, while the outer ends thereof contact the cylindrical surface of the mast arm and are secured here thereupon rigidly. Projecting beyond as an extension to the mast arm is a stout staff 83 at the extreme outer or tip end of which is the lure preferably a rabbit or dummy or the like. A pair of face plates 84 and 85 are respectively attached to the outer end of the mast arm and inner end of the staff, which face plates preferably straddle the axes of these arms. A pivot bolt 85 passes through the mast arm B0 and the staff 83, held securely in place by nuts 81 which clamp the bolt loosely onto these parts so as to enable the staff to swing upon the rigidly mounted mast arm. Disruptible cotter pins 88 or the like pliable fasteners are operatively inserted into the face plates of the arm and staff where they clear these parts, for the purpose of causing the stair to be normally held in axial alignment with the mast arm as shown in Figure 1.

Use is made of the rabbit saddle shown in Figure 2 for the purpose of holding the lure upon the tip end of the stad. This saddleconsists of a scoop-shaped concave-convex plate 90 secured shovel-like to the staff 83 a longitudinally spaced series of looped bands 9i are arranged in a cluster along the concave part of the saddle; their inner ends are hooked onto the upper edge thereof and their other ends are hooked onto the marginal outer edge of the saddle. The scoop-shaped plate overlies the side of the rabbit lure, while the looped straps girdle the main body thereof supportingly.

For the purpose of permitting compensation by way of expansion and contraction of the galvanized contact upper and lower rails, the following expedients .are made use of, illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Here there is disclosed rail sections making up the line of the rails employed in the present device. Stout fish plates 92 are channeled out to snugly receive and confine the base flanges of the rail sections by means of the oppositely arranged integral iianges 93; these fish plates 92 for furtherance of adequate reinforcement, are formed with an integral depending web 99, preferably disposed in vertical alignment with the web Il or Il of the particular rail thus tied to iish plates. The base anges of the rail sections are formed with longitudinal series of elongated slots 94. Stout bolts B5 project through the sh plates and through the slots 94 of the base anges of the rails in such a manner that their heads $1 are spaced below the sh plates, while their threaded terminals receive clamping nuts 9S to secure them firmly in position; encircling the bolts are coil springs 9B bearing at one end upon the bolt heads and at their other ends against the under face of the fish plates. In order to assure that free untrammeled rolling contact be made by the contact wheels upon the mentioned rails at the jointed intervals of the lined-up rail sections the abutting ends of these rails sections are stepcut as shown in Figure 4 in such a manner that L-shaped recessed portions are cross cut into their abuttable ends in staggered relationship as concerns the opposing base anges of the rail sections In this way it will be seen that the webs of these rails are reduced one half in thickness where the base ilanges are cut away so that these reduced webs have as much slidable play while in i rubbing contact with each other as is determined by the length of the slots 94 formed in said base flanges, against the tension of the coil springs 98.

The circuit for the motor 34 is as follows: from upper rail Il through brush 61 to one side of the motor eld, from the other side of the inotor field to the grounded frame and from the frame through brush El to rail I I; from wheels 49 and 50 to the armature through collector ring l, and return through wheels 4'! and 48 to rail I l', The motor starts to run and by means of the sprocket chain drive to the sprockets on the traction wheels 4l and 48 revolves these wheels so the carriage is impelled in forward motion. As it moves along the mast and staff extended therefrom move rectilinearly in slot 24 and the rabbit lure 89 is caused to make a rapid traverse of the entire length of the track. The dog in pursuit of the rabbit lure puts on a 'dash of speed in running which engenders sure-footed training habits. Should the animal by a mishap forciby collide with the rabbit or the staff holding same, the latter will not present an unyieldably impediment to the impact of the animal with it, but will,

instead, rapidly transmit the jolt and strain to the cotter pins 88 joining the stai to the mast arm 80, which cotter pins are the relatively weakest parts ofthe mast structure; hence the stai will swing around, breaking the cotter pins or disloclging them from their bearings, as it is free to turn upon the pivot 36.' The stan thus swung around is able to come into position alongside of the curbing 25. The dogs onrush and collision with the staff or lure is thus not atten-ded any untoward injury to the animal as he can run past the lure or stair after urging it into swinging action.

Should anything tend to break the springs 5I and 52 which press the upper contact wheels against the upper rail, the rocker arms carrying the same will then, under influence of gravity drop down to its lowermost position in the enclosures 39, thus holding the wheels restracted from the rail without causing any damage to them or surrounding parts of the apparatus. For the purpose of taking up slack in the sprocket chains I have shown the axles of the traction wheels 4l and 48 mounted in adjustable journal boxes 's'i in Figure 3, which slide'in frames 11a which have elongated slots Il in which project bolts 78, so by sliding the boxes in the frame the bolts move in these slots, after which the nuts on the bolts can be tightened. The contact wheels at each instance when they run over the jointed ends of mated rail sections enter the step-cut parts of the rails, so even if the rail sections have been parted or approximated due to expansion or contraction, the wheels will run steadily and smoothly and continuously from over the reduced web of one rail section onto the reduced web of the other rail section and along the abutting area of both rail sections. The entire arrangement of parts of the device is such as to promote strength, sturdiness and dependability during abnormal as well as normal operation of the moving parts, and wear and tear are compensated for also.

I do lnot intend to conne myself to the exact details of construction disclosed herein but cover al1 variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device as described the combination of a rectilinearily movable carriage, an extension arm mounted thereupon laterally, a forwardly projecting staff pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the arm, displaceable means interengaging the pivoted parts of said arm and staff to disruptedly hold them in axial alignment, and a lure carried at the tip end of the staff.

2. In a device as described, in combination with a carriage having a frame, means imparting motion to said carriage, a stout arm projecting outwardly at right angles to the plane of the frame, an anchor plate attaching said arm to said frame, a series of circumferentially extending bracing posts convergingly extending longitudinally towards the base of the arm, being secured thereto at their outer ends and being rigidly secured at their inner ends to said carriage, a lure supporting staff pivotally secured at its inner end to said arm, means normally holding said stal in parallel relation to said arm, and a lure supporting member carried by the outermost end of the stai.

3. In a device as described, the combination of a carriage, a base plate rigidly secured to the side thereof, a tubular arm secured centrally thereof and projecting at right angles, thereto, means for extraneously bracing the inner part of the arm to said plate, a saddle plate carried at the outer end of the arm straddling the axis thereof, a staff carrying at its inner end a saddle plate which straddles its axis, both saddle plates being pivoted together for rubbing contact to allow the staff to swing to a positon at an angle to said arm to disruptedly resist swinging of said staff on said arm, and a lure carried at the extreme outer end of the staff.

4. In a device as described in combination a wall, a. bracket secured rigidly thereto with its horizontal arm extending forwardly thereof, a sectional T-conductor rail insulatedly mounted with its base upon said arm, the base anges of said T-rail sections having longitudinally spaced apa-rt series of elongated slots to compensate for expansion and contraction, fish plates underlying the bases of said rail sections and having side flanges confining the base anges of the rails, and spring pressed bolts drawing together the bases of the rail sections to the sh plates yieldably and passing through said elongated slots.

5. In a device as described, in combination a line of T conductor rails with their Webs upstanding, a rigid under support for the bases of said rails, the flanges of said rails having a longitudinally spaced apart series of elongated slots, the abutting ends of the several rails being step-cut so they may have coaxial as well as butt slidable jointed relationship with one another, sh plates underlying the bases of said rails having channels in which the rail bases are snugly anchored, webs formed on said fish plates depending in vertical alignment with the webs of the rails, tie bolts passing through said sh plates and the slots of the rail flanges, having threaded nuts abutting the same and heads at their opposite ends, and springs coiled around said bolts seated on said heads and abutting the fish plates.

WARREN C. LE MIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,248,333 Ivanik Nov. 27, 1917 1,790,600 Shipski Jan. 27, 1931 1,481,313 Creveling Jan. 22, 1924 1,735,837 Lei/rire Dec. 23, 1930 1,801,557 Keen Apr. 21, 1931 1,930,780 Soules Oct. 17, 1933 

